508th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, War Diary November 1939

1 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Works and training of Company.

2 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Works and training of Company. Duckboards and ablution benches being made for stock.

3 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Works and training. Farewell dinner to Major Burton. Major-General Addison and Colonel Appleyard among those present.

4 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Works and training. Party of Officers under Captain Byers to Sheffield for demolition of bridge.

5 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Week-end leave granted to Company.

6 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Training and Works. Ablution benches put in at Tilley’s Assembly Rooms and All Saints Schools.

Billets for 49th R.T.C. Coal shelter, awning for Cookhouse and black out for Orderly Room at Pendower Schools. Company jail used for three defaulters.

7 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Training and Works. Two more defaulters in jail making five in total.

8 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Training and Works.

9 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Training and Works.

10 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training continued. Started work on converting 232 Company’s shell-slits into shelters in Lovaine Place. Company Dance held in Officers’ Mess, very successful.

11 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Armistice Day. No general Parade, but guard turned out at 11:00 hours, training and works continued.

12 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Church Parade to Jesmond Parish Church, under 2/Lts Scott and Edgar E. United Board paraded to Wesleyan Chapel, Brunswick Place.

13 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Works and training continued.

14 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works on shelters continued.

15 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works on shelters continued. Reconnaissance by 2/Lt Scott to Denton Schools, 8th Bn R.N.F. (M/C) “A” Company for blackout.

00:01 hours. Two guards missing from post, jailed for the night.

Billet inspection by O.C. and Orderly Officer, 2/Lt Scott.

16 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and work on shelters continued.

17 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and work on shelters continued. Working Party, 9 men and 1 NCO, Denton Schools to remove partitions and supervise blackout.

18 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works continued. First Air Raid Shelter completed. Half-holiday for troops after Route March of 6 miles.

19 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Troops on leave until 23:00 hours.

20 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training continued. Working Party to “Briermede” to recover P.A.D. stores. L.G. Post started. Parties to Pendower Schools, Denton Road Schools, 72nd F’d Bdge.

21 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works continued. Demolition Party, 1 Officer 10 NCOs and men to Marley Hill Colliery for Northern Command Demolition exercise. Detachments from other Engineer Units present. Reconnaissance by DADMS and 2/Lt Scott at Banqueting Hall, Jesmond Dene and Hutton Terrace for billeting.

22 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works continued. Demolition exercise as above. L.G. Post completed. P.A.D. stores from “Briermede” all collected.

23 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works. Demolition Party as above. End of three-day exercise.

24 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works. Second Air Raid Shelter completed in Lovaine Place. Third Air Raid Shelter, Lovaine Row, started.

25 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

I.E. Parade. Route March under 2/Lt Edgar. Two bulls, young, trapped themselves in the outhouse at the back of No 5 Billet, Lovaine Row. Great hopes of shooting them by 2i/c but they “went quietly”.

26 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

No Church Parade. Company, except duty personnel, on leave until 23:59 hours.

27 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works. Working Party to Banqueting Hall, Jesmond Dene for accommodation and blackout for 151st Field Ambulance Company, RAMC.

28 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works. Working Party to Banqueting Hall, Jesmond Dene for accommodation and blackout for 151st Field Ambulance Company, RAMC.

29 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works continued. Working Party completed blackout and latrines at Banqueting Hall, Jesmond Dene, blackout at Drill Hall, Hatton Terrace.

30 November 1939 Drill Hall, Barras Bridge.

Company training and works continued. Plumbing of ablution benches completed at Bahqueting Hall, and started at Drill Hall, Hatton Terrace.

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